Final exams are wrapping up for many schools throughout the country and for most students, the beginning of May is a time to start planning for summer vacation.

For football players, however, the beginning of this month is the best time of year to get a jump-start on the upcoming football season.

Coach Marc Beach, offensive coordinator at Tift County High School (Ga.), enjoys this time of year because with the end of school comes the beginning of spring football.

Beach has coached numerous National Team events and has been a high school coach for many years. His message to players is the same when school comes to a close.

“We stress academics all year, but with finals coming up, we try and get our practices out of the way so the players can concentrate and be ready for their tests,” Beach said.

As far as staying in shape and showing an interest in your school year-round? That answer is simple.

“We also encourage our players to play multiple sports.  We as staff feel it’s important to be involved with other programs,” he said.

Beach has gained a lot of experience with Regional Development Camps, National Development Games and International Bowl, so he knows what it takes to be successful on the gridiron.

It requires commitment.

Just because classes are coming to a close doesn’t mean athletes should put a bow on their workout routines. That’s when the process begins all over again, as Beach urges players to stay in the gym and work as hard as they can during the spring and summer.

“We continue to lift even during spring ball four days a week,” Beach said. “We don't want to lose what we have gained in the offseason as far as strength goes.”

As classes wrap up, make sure you're committed in both the classroom and the weight room, so you'll be ready to make a big impact this fall.